Get Off the Fence!

If you are going to make the decision to start taking ACTION in order to turn your dreams into REALITY and not just "talk", then it will be imperative for you to "get off the fence".

I love the way that Gloria Mayfield Banks described going from the "want to lane" to the "GOT TO lane". The strength of your purpose or your "why" will determine if you actually make that move from one "lane" to the other.

"Sitting on a fence" indicates a person that cannot decide which way that they want to go. They are not on one side or the other but, rather, they are in the middle - on the fence - making no decision either way.

WHAT A MISERABLE WAY TO LIVE! 

Yes, stepping off of that "fence" into a future of some unknowns can be scary! Yes, there are a lot of "what if's" that can - and will - come to mind as you consider doing so. Yes, there will be challenges and there WILL be roadblocks and obstacles.

But, listen, if you're not going to move forward then go ahead and get off of the fence and go back and retreat into the comfort zone. How has that worked out for you?

If your "why" and your purpose is big enough and strong enough, you will NEVER find happiness going back. You will only find and feel fulfillment by moving FORWARD! 

For you, there is only ONE WAY and that way is forward, into your positive future. 

Will there be changes in and for your life? ABSOLUTELY! 

Join me in the next article as we discuss the fact that CHANGE is an opportunity to grow and, until then, whatever you do, always be sure to... 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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Dreamers or Doers?

Several years ago, when I was still in ministry, I began a program that I called, "Dreamers and Doers", with the idea of our group of people taking our TALK and putting it into ACTION. 

I've always liked that title that I came up with and I am reminded of it from time to time and it still challenges me even today. And, I believe that it fits right in with our theme for this current series.

When we talk about the need to "stop hitting the 'snooze button' for our lives" and we discuss the need to CONTINUALLY grow, then it becomes a natural discussion of the need to put our passion and our "why" into ACTION. 

Remember? Purposeful, DAILY action!

Let's make sure we understand this first: We MUST have dreams! We all NEED something to hope for, to strive for in our lives. WE NEED DREAMS!

Also, as we have already talked about, these dreams must be YOURS and no one else's. No one can decide your dream for you and you can't live or follow a dream that belongs to someone else. 

QUESTION: Have you taken steps to put that DREAM into ACTION? Have you made the move of turning that DREAM into REALITY? Let's be careful that we don't continually talk about what we PLAN to do or WHEN we plan to do or WHAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE in order for us to do so.

Listen friend, it's EASY to dream! It's EASY to talk about those dreams and to get excited about those dreams.The real work begins when you start taking steps, when you start taking ACTION!

So, what will you do?

Are you going to keep "talking" or are you going to start "walking"?

In our next article, we will discuss the need to "Get Off of the Fence" and get moving.

Until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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Are You Growing or Rotting?

I really don't have any idea what John Addison had in mind when he said the above quote but I can share with you what comes to MY mind when I read his quote.

The first thing that comes to my mind is a watermelon growing on the vine. By the way, I LOVE watermelon! But, like anything else, if you "pick it" (cut it from the vine) too early, too prematurely, the watermelon will not be as good as it could be if it had been left to ripen to perfection. 

Even when a watermelon has been left on the vine so that it may grow to perfection, in order for me to get that watermelon, it once again has to be cut from the vine. 

Either way, once the watermelon is taken from the vine, it ceases to be green and it ceases to grow. What happens? It begins to rot and die!

Here's the kicker: Even if it is allowed to grow to being ripe, if it is not harvested (and enjoyed by people like me!) it will rot on the vine. Why? Because it has a natural growing season - a cycle - that takes place and ends up with the melon "being done" one way or the other.

Aren't you glad that we don't have a "growing season" that only allows us to become "ripe" or to "reach our potential" only to begin an immediate descent toward death? 

Oh sure, I understand that, technically speaking, we ALL have a "growing season" or a "cycle of life" but, at the same time, we can continue to grow and expand our lives regardless of age.  If you ever decide that you have learned all that you need to learn or that you know all that you need to know then, friend, you are on a downward spiral!

Yes, there are many people in this world that are "rotting on the vine", so to speak. They have ceased growing or they have never really even tried to grow or had any desire to do so. They exist, but that's about it...nothing more. 

And, friend, that's sad!

It goes back to what I talked about a couple of weeks ago about those that had talent but failed to put the work in that was necessary to make the most out of that talent.

Remember: DAILY activity. PURPOSEFUL activity. Every. Single. Day.

So, let's ask that question again: "Are you GREEN and GROWING or are you DEAD and ROTTING?" 

Don't TELL me and/or the world...

SHOW US. 

And, as you do so, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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Stop Hitting The SNOOZE Button!

When I was in college I would set my alarm clock across the room, on a desk, so that I would not "hit the snooze button" and fall back asleep. Now, to be honest, there was no "snooze" button because it was a wind-up clock along the lines of what you see pictured above. However, the idea was the same - turn it off and get up in a few more minutes. 

I'll be honest, I have never quite understood why someone sets an alarm knowing that they will hit the snooze button 3, 4 or maybe even 5 times before getting up. They know that, they plan their time (initial alarm) accordingly. Me? Why not just set the alarm for whatever time it will be when you finally get up? Why not sleep through the interruptions that come with that alarm going off again and again and again?

For many, it's a very misleading statement when they say, "Yeah, I have my alarm set for 5:30 a.m. everyday!" while, by the time they get done hitting the snooze button, it's 6:15 a.m. before they finally get out of bed!

New Year's Resolutions are much the same Oh sure, the "snooze button" setting is in months instead of minutes, but the result is the same. 

"Starting tomorrow I"m going to _________________ (you fill in the blank)!"

Maybe that person WILL actually follow through with that resolution for a few days or even a month. According to an article on this very thing, "only 64 percent last longer than the first month, and only 46 percent last longer than six months."

And yet, after hitting the "snooze button" on whatever the resolution was for eleven months (for some) they will do it all over again the following year.

A couple of weeks ago I began a series on the importance and necessity of TAKING ACTION. You can start with the first article in that series by CLICKING HERE.  Then, last week, I started another series on how important for each of us to be the very best that we can be - to live OUR purpose. You can CLICK HERE for that beginning article.

After hopefully agreeing that we MUST have DAILY ACTION as a part of our lives and, after also hopefully understanding that we MUST live our lives to our full potential, then the only question that remains is - WHEN?

My guess is that, most of us, if not all of us, can all look back and see evidence of times when we had "planned to start but never did" or "got started but never finished".  And, though it is painful to take a look at those situations, we must do so for TWO main reasons.

1. Acknowledge these failures but don't continue to dwell on them. LEARN and MOVE ON!

2. Use them as a "fire" that serves as fuel for an ignited flame of DETERMINATION to NEVER  REPEAT those failed actions! 

Hitting the "snooze button" is easy...TAKING ACTION is not always so easy.  

So, as Mel Robbins said in the quote in the above graphic, "THE TIME IS NOW".  

Join me in my next article as we consider the topic, "Growing or Rotting?" and, until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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It's Up to EACH of Us to Be the BEST of Us!

This is it. The conclusion of the series. What? If you didn't realize that this was the part - the conclusion - of a series then you need to go back and read the four previous articles, starting with the one entitled,"Listen Carefully! Opportunity IS Available" 

YOU NEED TO READ each and every one of these my friend! You really do. And, while you are at it, be sure to listen to each podcast and to watch each video broadcast on the same topic(s). All of the links can be found below.

When we all consider (and, hopefully, accept) the fact that we are all uniquely created and that NO ONE is like us then we will also realize that we all have very unique (special only to us) talents and abilities. And, friend, the world NEEDS each of us to share these unique talents and abilities!

In other words, "It's up to EACH of us to make the MOST of us!" 

Yes, I believe that God has give each and everyone of us our own special and unique set of talents and abilities but, at the same time, He also has given us the ability to USE those and to make the most out of them. I firmly believe that, not only has he given us the ability to do so but that He also EXPECTS us to do so. If you want, go read what is shared in the Bible in Matthew 25: 14 - 28.

Again, just because you have those unique talents and abilities does not mean that you can just sit back and expect things to happen. NO! Go back and read what I said about those who have had talent but did not WORK at developing that talent...they usually fail and fail miserably. And, on top of that, they are usually a "cautionary tale" that is used to help others see the dangers of doing so.  

One other thing (remember, go listen to the podcast and also watch the video for some additional insight), don't wait for others to do this for you. Don't wait for others to set things up for you so that things are perfectly aligned in order for you to take action.

If you do you will end up as another "cautionary tale" that I talked about two paragraphs above this one. 

Don't expect or wait for the government to do it for you. Don't expect or wait for your parents to do it for you, or your spouse, or your friend(s), or....you fill in the blank. 

Take DAILY ACTION beginning TODAY. 

I hope that I can be a part of the process of helping provide you positive information to help keep you moving forward.

Be sure to join me next time as we continue with our daily activity of helping to protect our minds from negative thoughts and influence and to promote good, positive thinking to help maintain a positive mindset! Until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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